The environmental impact assessment shall be based on a description of the environmental conditions before the start of the project activity, both within the project boundary and in areas outside the project boundary likely to be affected by the project, and the likely changes according to, inter alia, the following potential effects: Land forms and soils: Slope, bank or shore instability; Real, gully or shore erosion; Loss of nutrients and organic matter; Decrease or alteration of microflora and microfauna; Decrease in cation-exchange capacity; Soil compaction; Laterization; Rutting and swamping of soils; Burial of downslope soils as a result of excessive erosion and sedimentation Water resources: Decreased infiltration and groundwater recharge; Increased storm run-off; Decreased base flow, lose dependable year-round discharge; Local ponding of water; Increased turbidity; Accelerated eutrophication; Contamination of waters with hydrocarbons, biocides and wood preservatives; Increased sediment loads, with a detrimental effects on channel stability, waterlife, useful reservoir life, navigation; Loss of excess fertilizer from fertilized plantation, which may accelerate the eutrophication; Return water from irrigated plantations which may be saline; Invasion of crop land, clogging of drainage tiles and withdrawal of water from irrigation ditches by tree roots from shelter belts.
La evaluación del impacto ambiental se basará en una descripción de las condiciones ambientales existentes antes del comienzo del proyecto, tanto en el ámbito del proyecto como en las zonas externas a él que probablemente se vean afectadas por el proyecto, y de los cambios probables en función, entre otras cosas, de los siguientes efectos posibles: